8 Health Problems Facing Veterans

The wounds of war are both visible and invisible.

By Wesley Baines

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Hearing Loss

Veterans are incredibly likely to suffer from some form of hearing loss. Whether they’re standing next to a running jet engine, firing guns, or being exposed to explosive blasts from enemy weaponry, military service is a high-risk occupation for those who value their ears.

This isn’t limited to a dampened aural sense. Other symptoms of exposure to extreme noise and vibration are a persistent, maddening ringing in the ears, or even a loud buzzing.

Sound and vibration aren’t the only source of hearing loss. Chemical exposure—namely, exposure to jet fuel—can cause hearing loss by interfering with the parts of the brain which interpret sound. Jet fuel is absorbed readily through the skin, and studies are beginning to find links between exposure and long-term neurological problems.

Hearing loss is the most common type of injury for veterans, so if you were ever involved in military service and find that your hearing isn’t quite what it should be, get checked out. Your doctor, Veteran’s Affairs or not, is willing and able to help you.